Morehead State University

Lauren Dru Dickerson, of Hustonville, Bachelor of Arts; and Elizabeth Nicole Estes, Bachelor of Arts, were among the graduates at the 2007 spring commencement exercises at Morehead State University.

Hannah Shear, top photo, and Austin Jacobs, bottom, were among the 2008 Kentucky scholarship recipients that were made honorary state commissioners of agriculture and presented with college tuition checks at the Agribusiness/Governor's Scholars Program Awards Luncheon recently at the Kentucky History Center in Frankfort. Aris Cedeno, executive director of the Governor's Scholars Program, presented the checks. The scholarship checks varied in amount, based on the need and qualification of each student.

The Taps in Motion Clogging Studio swept all top team honors at the Kentucky State Clogging Championships at Morehead State University Aug. 29. Sassy Taps in Motion won the overall Amateur Team Championship. Taps in Motion, as a combined team, won the Overall Junior Champion Team with its artistic expression dance. The Taps in Motion Senior Team won the Overall Senior Champion Team with its exhibition dance. The studio is directed by Jamie Conyers-Vincent and is based in Owingsville.

Mike and Rosemary Curtis of Morehead announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Laurel Ann, to Gregory Eugene Wood Jr., son of Greg and Penny Wood of Winchester. The bride-elect is a 2000 graduate of Rowan County Senior High School, a 2005 graduate of Morehead State University and a 2007 graduate of University of Kentucky's Martin School of Public Policy and Administration with a master's degree in public administration. She is employed by the Bluegrass Area Development District in Lexington as a community development specialist.

Rev. and Mrs. Johnny G. and Patsy Smith Thompson of Stanford announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Stephanie Faith Thompson, to Laurent A. Nash, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Arthur J. and Sheila Miles Nash of Louisville. The bride-elect is a graduate of Lincoln County High School, 1998 graduate of University of the Cumberlands, and 2002 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. Miss Thompson is employed at Stanford Elementary School as the media specialist and is the granddaughter of Flossie Smith of Stanford.

Karen Hensley Groeschen of Independence and Michael Hensley of Fort Thomas announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristin Michelle Hensley, to Spence "Skip" W. Closson II, son of Spencer and Lynda Closson of Stanford. Hensley is a 1999 graduate of Scott High School in Taylor Mill, a 2003 graduate of University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Decision Science and Information Systems, and is a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

Morehead State University has announced that Heather Marie Young of Waynesburg is among those students receiving a Commonwealth Scholarship for the 2006-07 school year. Young, the daughter of Paul and Sharmon Young, is a graduate of Lincoln County High School. She was ranked fourth in her class and received the Inter-County Scholarship. Young is a member of the National Honor Society and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, a volunteer with Bluegrass Community Action, and a nursery worker at Pleasant View Baptist Church.

Thursday was declared "Morehead Day" at West Jessamine High School as several alumni and fans showed their support for Morehead State University. West teacher and girls' basketball coach Troy Lee Thomas, a Morehead alum, organized the show of support. The Eagles punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row after winning the Ohio Valley Tournament. Morehead will face in-state foe Louisville today at 1:40 p.m. in Denver, Colo. The Cardinals are a No. 4 seed, finishing third in the Big East Conference regular season statndings and was runner-up in the conference tournament.

Mr. and Mrs. James and Mary Wells announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia Ann Wells, to Jacob Pierce Allen, son of Stephen and Pam Allen of Lexington. The couple is planning a private beach ceremony at 5:30 p.m. May 15 in Charleston, S.C. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School. She is currently enrolled at Morehead State University where she is working on a social work degree. She is employed as the ballet director at Studio One School of Dance in Winchester.

Phillis Crouch Staton’s body died Sunday, Oct. 17, but her soul has gone to be with the Lord. Staton, 63, was the daughter of Wendell Lee and Beulah Mae Conley Crouch of Morgan County, Ky. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, James Morgan Staton; her son, Morgan Todd Staton; her daughter, Wendy Mae Staton and husband John Russell Fritz, both of Nicholasville; two grandchildren, Morgan E. Staton and John Cannon Fritz; three sisters,...

Patsy Cline's name may be in the title, but director Octavia Biggs said “Always ... Patsy Cline”¿is really the story of Texas housewife Louise Seger. “The story is really about Louise, the friend, and what having Patsy as a friend meant to her. It's really a beautiful story about friendship,” Biggs said. “Always... Patsy Cline” is the current production of Morehead's community theater group, the Morehead Theatre Guild. The show opened Thursday and stars Morehead residents Pam Hammonds as Louise Seger and Leslie Lewis as Patsy Cline.

Thursday was declared "Morehead Day" at West Jessamine High School as several alumni and fans showed their support for Morehead State University. West teacher and girls' basketball coach Troy Lee Thomas, a Morehead alum, organized the show of support. The Eagles punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row after winning the Ohio Valley Tournament. Morehead will face in-state foe Louisville today at 1:40 p.m. in Denver, Colo. The Cardinals are a No. 4 seed, finishing third in the Big East Conference regular season statndings and was runner-up in the conference tournament.

Phillis Crouch Staton’s body died Sunday, Oct. 17, but her soul has gone to be with the Lord. Staton, 63, was the daughter of Wendell Lee and Beulah Mae Conley Crouch of Morgan County, Ky. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, James Morgan Staton; her son, Morgan Todd Staton; her daughter, Wendy Mae Staton and husband John Russell Fritz, both of Nicholasville; two grandchildren, Morgan E. Staton and John Cannon Fritz; three sisters,...

The Taps in Motion Clogging Studio swept all top team honors at the Kentucky State Clogging Championships at Morehead State University Aug. 29. Sassy Taps in Motion won the overall Amateur Team Championship. Taps in Motion, as a combined team, won the Overall Junior Champion Team with its artistic expression dance. The Taps in Motion Senior Team won the Overall Senior Champion Team with its exhibition dance. The studio is directed by Jamie Conyers-Vincent and is based in Owingsville.

Mr. and Mrs. James and Mary Wells announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia Ann Wells, to Jacob Pierce Allen, son of Stephen and Pam Allen of Lexington. The couple is planning a private beach ceremony at 5:30 p.m. May 15 in Charleston, S.C. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School. She is currently enrolled at Morehead State University where she is working on a social work degree. She is employed as the ballet director at Studio One School of Dance in Winchester.

Former George Rogers Clark High School Principal Claude Sallee Jr., who headed the school from 1977 to 1986, has died. "He was just a very good family person," said his son Mike Sallee. "He was just the type of dad you'd want to have. It's hard to give that up. " Sallee, 74, died Sunday at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington after a brief illness. Mike Sallee said his father first became sick the weekend before Christmas. "He was perfectly well, and five minutes later he was sick and in severe pains," he said.

When Kenny Turner arrived at Morehead State University to play football, he was put in a room with two older players - Norman "Scrapper" Letcher and Velmar Miller. "They put him in a room with us because they were afraid he would get homesick and they didn't want him to leave," said Letcher, the former Danville all-state player who was a star running back at Morehead. Guess what? The coaches were right to worry because Turner did leave and returned home to Richmond. "Me and Velmar went on a Thursday night to get him and told him to be ready the next morning to go back," Letcher said.

The 2008 Junior Miss competition will be this Saturday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at George Rogers Clark High School. Nineteen girls will by competing for the honor of representing Clark County. Sarah Blake Warner is the daughter of Barry and Mary Jane Warner. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky and major in engineering. Katie Nicole McQuerry is the daughter of Steve and Becky McQuerry. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky with a career goal of becoming a lawyer.

Clark County Board of Education member Minnie Spangler has announced her bid for re-election as the representative of District 2. Spangler, 49, of 204 Brookview Court, has served on the Board of Education since 2003, and was the vice chairwoman for 2005 through 2007. She also serves on the Winchester-Clark County Bluegrass Community and Technical College Advisory Council. "My vision for Winchester and Clark County is for our schools and district to be recognized as an educational leader in the state.

Hannah Shear, top photo, and Austin Jacobs, bottom, were among the 2008 Kentucky scholarship recipients that were made honorary state commissioners of agriculture and presented with college tuition checks at the Agribusiness/Governor's Scholars Program Awards Luncheon recently at the Kentucky History Center in Frankfort. Aris Cedeno, executive director of the Governor's Scholars Program, presented the checks. The scholarship checks varied in amount, based on the need and qualification of each student.